Customer Reviews

Warrior (Wolfblade Trilogy)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Eight years ago, Marla Wolfblade buried her second spouse, but vowed at the time to strengthen her royal power so she would no longer be vulnerable and to protect her offspring especially her teenage son Damin, heir to the High Throne of Hythria. Now she is the true ruler of Hythria though her brother High Prince Lernen sits on the High Throne. Directed by Marla, the dwarf Elezaar teaches Damin "the Rules of Gaining and Wielding Power" so that when his time comes, he will not just be ready; he will maintain his rule.

However, as Damin is prepared to take over the throne, the High Arrion of the Sorcerer's Collective plan to either use him as their puppet or overthrow him and put a more malleable ambitious puppet on the High Throne. As powerful and influential as Marla has become, she may not be able to prevent the court intrigue especially the assassination attempts on her, her son and her other children.. However, Damin proves sharp as he turns into an adult, but that may prove ineffective as the attacks appear to be from those who he should be able to trust with his life.

There is less action in book two of the Wolfblade Trilogy than in its predecessor (see WOLFBLADE), as WARRIOR is more a cerebral coming of age tale with political manipulations that would make Machiavelli proud. The story line focuses on Damin becoming adept with "the Rules of Gaining and Wielding Power" and who he should consider an ally or an enemy. However, his abilities fail him when he begins to realize his greatest adversary is not the High Arrion, but someone in his inner circle who appears to be a traitor. Fans will enjoy Jennifer Fallon's middle thriller that is light on the sword but heavy on the intrigue. WARRIOR is great fantasy

Harriet Klausner

I've read The Hythrun Chronicles, and now the first two from The Wolfblade Trilogy from Jennifer Fallon and would highly recommend them. Through the Hythrun Chronicles Damin Wolfblade was a wonderful character to read and she brings him even more to life in The Wolfblade Trilogy. He's witty and intelligent and a bit mischevious. I am eagerly anticipating the next volume in the series Warlord.

I finished the first book and liked it enough that I went to get this one the day after I finished the first. About 600 pages and I finished in 2 days---think I liked it. Nothing to really make you stop and think but if you are looking for a book for pure enjoyment and you like fantasy, I would recommend Jennifer Fallon's books.

She does make her characters real and I do trully dislike Marla's brother in law. The man manages to kill off all 3 of his siblings in the first book and not look at all guilty. Some how he manages to squirm his way into a position of power and every bad thing he does ---and he does do an awful lot of dreadful things---are somehow not his fault. A lot of the plot you just know will happen, not really any twists I didn't foresee. But I trully did enjoy and would recommend to anyone who likes fantasy mixed with a touch of the erotic.

This is the second book in the Wolfblade Trilogy.

In the first book, Marla Wolfblade went from a naive young girl madly in love to a young (twice widowed) mother who learned the hard way to protect the life of her young son, Damin.

Damin is the heir to the High Princedom. The current High Prince is a feckless, pleasure seeking imbecile. Marla is the one who truly runs the country for her brother and she is keeping it in trust for her child. To do so, she must keep her brother alive and also her son alive while also training Damin on how to gain and use power. In this she gets help from her faithful servant, the dwarf Elezaar.

In this second book, we find the players many years later. Marla, we learn, has been widowed a third time and is currently in her fourth marriage. The last two marriages were strategic moves to gain power. She is still keeping Hythrun running smoothly. Her enemy, the Sorceress Alija is still trying to assassinate young Damin. In this book, Alija believes she has finally found the fool-proof method.

Meanwhile, the Wolfblade siblings,step siblings and cousins are all growing up. Damin is being taught the skills he'll need when he takes over the kingdom. His sister Kalan already exhibits the signs of the smart and fearless woman she'll be one day.

This is an excellent second installment in what has fast become one of my new favorite series. This second book focuses more on the children than on Marla. And the transition is a good one. Fallon does a great job of showing how Marla has built a foundation for her children for when they get older. She also does a great job of showing the sacrifices that a woman like Marla makes to ensure the safety and well being of her children. In this book we learn the Wolfblade children's personalities, warts and all. They are a charming, loyal and smart bunch.

One thing I really liked was the delicate game of cat and mouse being played between Marla and Alija. Alija is a formidable enemy, but she has no clue that Marla is onto her and has been for 8 years. Meanwhile Marla quietly and competently takes quiet protective measures. She is taking the "revenge served cold" adage to a whole new level. And the ending of this installment and Alija's realization of how well she's been played is delicious.

Like the first book, there are some shocking moments that surprise the reader. Fallon doesn't do the cliche thing and it is good. I like it when a writer doesn't follow old tired narrative tricks like false misunderstandings or making all the good guys infallible or making all the villains mustache twirlers. She takes a few left turns that keeps the action going and makes the story both exciting and even poignant.

She also has a very deft hand with humor. The dialogue is sparkling and often quite witty. It also sounds very natural. It is easy to "hear" two people who have known each other for years and comfortable with each other in her character dialogue.

So this book, this series, gets high marks from me. It is fine fantasy, light romance, a good family drama, a little soapy, lots of court intrigue, some magic, a bit of murder and mayhem, a spot of assassination all woven with an undertone of humor.

Jennifer Fallon is an author who you know will always deliver the best. In all of her books she has never once disappointed me. That's why I will not hesitate to buy her books as hardbacks and why in her newest Tide Lords series I have spent the extra money to order her books from Australia just because I don't want to wait the year or two for the whole series to come out. Her books are well worth the money spent. I just finished Warrior last night and will be starting Warlord as soon as I write this review. I'm not going to give a plot rehash because others have done it, I am just going to say that I am glad that I waited and held off reading until I could have the whole trilogy to read all together. it is a wonderful series. Damim was my favorite in the Hythron Chronicles so it is great to be able to find out more about him. If you are new to Jennifer Fallon's wonderful books I would recommend reading the Wolfblade, Warrior and Warlord first and then read Medalon, Treason Keep and Harshini. I plan on going back and reading them after I finish Warlord. Medalon, TK and Harshini continue Damin's and Brak's story. Reading the Wolfblade Trilogy will help you to appreciate and understand the Medalon Trilogy more easily. Please don't miss out on Jennifer Fallon's books - the only negative I can say about her is that after reading her books she spoils you for any other author. It is always so hard to find something to read that measures up to the high standards of Jennifer Fallon. Most highly recommended.

Jennifer Fallon is a great author in the Fantasy genre. I really liked the Harshini books that she wrote. The Wolfblade Trilogy is an excellent counterpoint to the same world but from another country's point of view. Fallon has created an amazing society where the politics are played at a deadly level. One mistake and you are history.

Marla is a cunning woman to maintain her power on that society even though she cannot have any visible position. And she has managed to keep her son alive long enough to make his own bid for the throne. This book tells of the years that it took Damin to mature into his own power. But it doesn't lag.

I eagerly await the final story of Damin Wolfblade.

book two of the wolfblade series, it is pretty good story. kept my interest. that is what I look for in a book, if it keeps my interest and dont bore me, you got my vote.

This is an excellent series. I only bought the first book, not having heard of Jennifer Fallon. I zipped through that and ordered book 2, Warrior, before I was even finished with the first one. It has all the necessary elements of fantasy. Ms. Fallon's imagery is well done and it's very easy to picture the world she has created. The story moves quickly and develops logically. I found myself not wanting to put any of the series' books down. One of them I read in a day. If you like fantasy, I highly recommend this book and, indeed, all of the books in the Wolfblade Trilogy and the following 3 of the Hythrun Cronicles. I hope Ms. Fallon returns to this world and writes more wonderful books like this one.

After I read the first book in this group I was impressed and wanted to get the second one but I wasn't stunned. After reading this one I'm very happy to say when I finished it I was at the store that day buying the next... If there are more in the future you can bet I'll be there when they come out.

Fallon is a superb writer. Her characters are extremely life-like. I love the fact that Marla Wolfblade is shocked to find out that she is considered ruthless by the population. Damon is precocious and fun, yet hides an intelligence like a poker player hiding his Royal Flush. Usually, when the writing is as good as this it takes me longer to read and savor a book, yet, the action and situations Fallon creates in the story makes me read faster and skim ahead because I feel as though I simply cannot wait to find out what will happen. My only problem with this book is the fact that it is a prequel to her previous series. I already know what will happen in the end. I already know who will win the war, who will get the girl, who will die. Because of that, it leaves me iffy for wanting to even read the next book-like reading the end before reading the book (I just don't get how anyone can do that and still read a book). I would definitely recommend this book. If you have not read any of Fallon's books, I would suggest you being with Wolfblade and work your way through this series before starting her earlier written series, since the time frame for that occurs later. I hope this helps. Happy Reading!